About Dependable Flame: Our Mission Statement

The Genesis

The design of the Zippo lighter is as simple as it is genius. It is this design(among other things) that inspired DEPENDABLEFLAME.COM. We aim to highlight products and ideas that are timeless. Devices and gadgets and projects that are worth the effort in any generation or age. We believe that some aspects of all our lives have become too disposable. No one seems to want to fix anything anymore. But disposable is seldom responsible…

1969 Air America Zippo

The World We Live In

Everyone says they’re worried about the environment but appear bewitched by the convenience of all today’s plastic products. A can of Zippo fuel would last most smokers for yrs. So, they would save money and not contribute to the consumption of all the damn plastic.

There’s also the issue of how the legalization of cannabis(both medical and recreational) and industrial hemp(ever hear of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937?) could revolutionize our society as we see more and more the dangers of relying on chemicals and plastics which pollute our minds, our bodies and the environment we ALL share.

Cannabis can provide help for many currently suffering from opioid addiction and many other medical and psychological ailments, a crop for farmers who have ground to sow and a revenue source for the government to tax. Literally…everyone…wins

Zippo, Leatherman, Case. Just a few examples of quality, American made, durable tools and products. Real tools that if they’re treated right(and often even if they’re not) will last your lifetime and probably be passed down again by whomever you leave them to.

The man in the photograph above is my father. He was the most capable man I ever met. In that photo, I believe he is in his late twenties. He is strong, quick-witted and sure of himself. He is at the peak of health both physically and mentally. He’ll go on about his business for another 25 yrs before he suffers any apparent symptoms of a disease that was just as present the day of that photo as it was the day it killed him. But before it killed him, it took us all down a long and painful road. I thank God the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ every day that this nasty disease no longer plagues him. My father died from Huntington’s Disease. And he was always going to die from Huntington’s Disease as long as something else didn’t kill him first.

Thank you for the awareness. I agree with all you have said, and I know from personal experience that cannabis has helped many. Please keep writing, as we all do need to be aware. I especially loved the dedication to your father. God bless!

Thank you for such a great post.
I agree that our society seems to show concern about polution but at the same time are buying disposable lighters, paper plates and so on.
The zippo was and is still a must have item. I grew up listening to the sound of it and of course when I got older I became a smoker and had my own. Can’t beat a zippo.
As for the tribute to your father, I am so sorry for what he and your family went through. You are an awesome person for contributing to the HDSA.
God Bless You And Your Family

Thank you for the kind words, Lee Ann. I am just an average person but I do serve an awesome God! There has been a lot of promising research lately that has given hope to many, when not too long ago there was no hope. Hopefully, the awareness, research and fundraising will continue until this disease is eradicated.

I have a Vulcan lighter given to me in 1977 following military service over seas. Lighter is about 2″ high. I need replacement flints. I will also need replacement flints for my Dalmin lighter received in 1970. This lighter is 2 1/2” high. Can you help? Thanks.

You bet, Paul. Most of the Vulcan and Dalmin lighters I have seen are flip-top, Zippo style lighters and can use regular old Zippo, Ronson or whatever brand of flint your local Wal-Mart carries. If you don’t have flint available to you locally, email or text me your address and I’ll put a couple in the mail to you. On a related note, are the flint tubes clear of the old flint and residue? If not, I can help you with that too.

Thank you, Kay. I appreciate the bookmark. I was not aware of Perthes Disease but did a little research and that sounds incredibly difficult. I will pray for your husband and I hope that he has the treatment and medication needed for a full life. Cannabis has been a godsend to me as well.

Hi, I was wondering if you offer repair services? You see I have this old camera lighter, and it’s got a pretty intricate mechanism kind of like the Thorens Lighters. And I am afraid of not being able to get it back together again. If you like I could send you some pictures of the lighter so you can get a better idea of what I’m up against.
Thanks, Jesse

Thank you, Jesse for the question. I do offer repair services for many petrol/flint lighters. I don’t generally work on butane or piezoelectric lighters. To get started, simply send me some pictures via email or text. Clear photos of the top and bottom of the lighter with lid and any covers open should give me the clues I need. If I’m able to help you with a repair, we will come to terms before you mail the lighter to me, so that your expectations are fully informed.